Tuesday, October 01, 2013

Madhouse


1974***1/2

Kicking off this year with a Vincent Price/Peter Cushing classic. Today I combined gym time and movie time by watching the film on my iPhone while I worked out, it was pretty awesome. Not only did I get my workout in but the time passed very quickly as I was absorbed into the film. I'm thinking this might only be a good thing if the film is good, a stinker might make that elliptical even more of a beast to conquer. Sadly this is the only film I had time for today, slow start this year. How lame is that!

Vincent Price plays actor Paul Toombes who has become quite famous for his Doctor Death films. While celebrating the most recent of the Doctor Death film his fiancé is murdered. After being cleared of the crime and spending several years in a psychiatric hospital friend and co-writer Herbert Flay invites Paul to revisit the character for a new film. Before they even get started the murdering begins.

Madhouse is a fun and witty whodunit with some fine acting by Price and Cushing. No one does a man over the edge quite like Mr. Price. Of course I am quite biased, I have always loved Vincent Price since I was a child. If you're at all whodunit savvy, it's not all that difficult to figure out who the culprit is. Still it's a quite enjoyable classic which moves along very well and has some very interesting characters along the way. 


Plus, Dr. Death has a really groovy face.

6 comments:

AC said...

sounds fun! and good strategy to watch a movie while working out. that first photo is (ahem) priceless.

Landshark said...

Nice choice for a kickoff to the thon! Watching on an iphone while doing the eliptical...brilliant.

JPX said...

I vowed a while ago that I would never watch another horror movie between the years 1970-1974. I don't know what it is about that era when it comes to horror movies but they have a look and feel about them that just make me bored and uncomfortable. The British films are especially dull to me. My rule of thumb is that I will watch Vincent Price/Peter Cushing when they are in black and white but I stay away from them when they are in color. I'm glad this one was fun and I do like whodunits but...

Catfreeek said...

It doesn't have that drawn out boring hammer era feel to it.

Octopunk said...

That's good to hear! Excellent opening effort, Cat. Love me some Vincent Price.

JPX you're a weirdo, but having just watched a total loser movie from 1975 I think I know what you're talking about.

DKC said...

I love me some Price as well. This sounds like a great choice!

Malevolent

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